The 85-year-old star has revealed she went under the knife more than five years ago after she discovered a lump on her breast and has only ever told a few people about it.

Talking about her scare at the Breast Cancer Research Symposium and Awards luncheon in New York on Thursday (09.10.14), Barbara said: ''Some years back, more than five now, I discovered a small lump in my breast. I had a lumpectomy. I hadn't talked about it. There was no reason to. There were other choices that were possible, this was mine. I told a few people and I am fine. I've had no recurrence.''

The TV presenter, who was being honoured with the Sandra Taub Humanitarian Award, praised the event's host, Amy Robach, who discovered she had cancer during an on-air mammogram as part of a segment on 'Good Morning America'.

Barbara said: ''When [Amy] discovered she had breast cancer, she handled it in the most magnificent and wise, sensitive way. I think what Amy has done, and the path she has chosen, has saved the lives of many women.''

'The View' co-host also admitted to having her ovaries removed as a precautionary measure after her sister passed away from ovarian cancer.